2,265 research outputs found

    Significance of Innovative Learning Skills in the Era of Education 4.0

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    Considering the rapidly evolving technological landscape, innovative learning skills have become indispensable for Education 4.0. Therefore, this paper presents a study aimed at assessing the level of importance and prioritization of innovative learning skills in the context of Education 4.0 among high school students in the UAE. The study utilized a questionnaire survey, distributing 150 questionnaire sets to selected high school students in Abu Dhabi, UAE. Subsequently, the collected data was subjected to statistical analysis using SPSS software. The analysis of data importance revealed noteworthy findings. Specifically, the skills TS1 ("I am familiar with online learning tools used in my school"), OCL1 ("I learn online collaboratively with my classmates"), and TSE1 ("I have confidence in my skills using technology") were identified as of very high importance for the requirements of Education 4.0 among UAE high school students. Regarding the ranking of innovative learning skill groups, the study unveiled that the Self-regulated learning (SRL) group attained the highest rank, boasting a mean score of 4.272. Following closely, the Technology Self-Efficacy (TSE) group secured a mean score of 4.248. In contrast, the Critical thinking skills (CTS) group ranked the lowest, garnering a mean score of 4.128. These rankings indicate that respondents perceive Self-regulated learning skills as the most proficient among the listed domains, while Critical thinking skills are perceived as the least proficient. The findings of this study have the potential to provide valuable insights to the educational community, aiding them in enhancing the skills necessary for Education 4.0

    Are emerging deep eutectic solvents (DES) relevant for lipase-catalyzed lipophilizations?

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    With the recent interest on green chemistry, the scientists have focused on developing new and more efficiient solvents to carry out enzymatic-catalyzed reactions with emphasis on reduced costs, risks and toxicity while improving biodegradability. Among the new available solvents, the multimolecular-based liquids (such as ionic liquids and eutectic solvents) have been the subject of most recent studies. Currently, and mainly due to its environmental and economic features, DES are arousing much interest and curiosity. Regarding the biotransformations with lipases, the so-called “lipophilization” reactions are of major interest. However, they are complex to implement mainly because it is difficult to find a suitable reaction medium. Thus, this review aimed at providing a presentation of these multimolecular- based solvents with general overview of the recent studies dealing with lipase-catalyzed reactions in DES. In addition, emphasis was placed on their strengths and weaknesses, especially with the perspective to be use as efficient and green medium to implement complex and valuable biotransformation such as lipase-catalyzed lipophilizations. (RĂ©sumĂ© d'auteur

    A heuristic-based approach to code-smell detection

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    Encapsulation and data hiding are central tenets of the object oriented paradigm. Deciding what data and behaviour to form into a class and where to draw the line between its public and private details can make the difference between a class that is an understandable, flexible and reusable abstraction and one which is not. This decision is a difficult one and may easily result in poor encapsulation which can then have serious implications for a number of system qualities. It is often hard to identify such encapsulation problems within large software systems until they cause a maintenance problem (which is usually too late) and attempting to perform such analysis manually can also be tedious and error prone. Two of the common encapsulation problems that can arise as a consequence of this decomposition process are data classes and god classes. Typically, these two problems occur together – data classes are lacking in functionality that has typically been sucked into an over-complicated and domineering god class. This paper describes the architecture of a tool which automatically detects data and god classes that has been developed as a plug-in for the Eclipse IDE. The technique has been evaluated in a controlled study on two large open source systems which compare the tool results to similar work by Marinescu, who employs a metrics-based approach to detecting such features. The study provides some valuable insights into the strengths and weaknesses of the two approache

    From crops to products for crops: preserving the ecosystem through the use of bio-based molecules

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    In a context of dwindling oil reserves and environmental pressures, the chemical industry needs to innovate by developing new processes for producing bioproducts from raw plant materials. Unsaturated fatty acids from vegetable oils constitute a highly promising renewable resource that can be used to diversify productions, decreasing reliance on petroleum. A starting material rich in oleic acid has been obtained through the selection of high-oleic sunflower varieties and enzymatic hydrolysis of the oil they produce. The double bonds of this unsaturated raw material have been cleaved in green oxidizing conditions involving a biphasic lipophilic-aqueous system including hydrogen peroxide as an oxidant and a peroxo-tungsten complex Q3 {PO2[WO(O2)2]4} as a phase-transfer catalyst (PTC) and co-oxidant. This PTC efficiently transferred oxygen to the substrate in the lipophilic phase. A mono-acid (pelargonic acid) and a di-acid (azelaic acid), with shorter, unusual hydrocarbon chains not present in the natural state, were synthesized and purified through an intensive process. Pelargonic acid was then formulated as an environmentally friendly biocontrol agent for weeds. We extended this green process of oxidative scission to other fatty acids and derivatives, to obtain other short-chain acids with diverse potential applications. This production chain (crops, reaction and purification processes, products, applications) is based on a sustainable development strategy. Dans un contexte de diminution des rĂ©serves fossiles et de pressions rĂ©glementaires et environnementales, l’industrie chimique tend Ă  innover en dĂ©veloppant de nouveaux procĂ©dĂ©s pour la production de bioproduits d’origine vĂ©gĂ©tale. Les acides gras insaturĂ©s d’une huile vĂ©gĂ©tale constitue une ressource renouvelable prometteuse qui peut ĂȘtre utilisĂ©e pour diversifier les productions et rĂ©duire la dĂ©pendance vis-Ă -vis du pĂ©trole. Dans cet article, une matiĂšre premiĂšre riche en acide olĂ©ique a Ă©tĂ© obtenue par l’hydrolyse enzymatique de l’huile de tournesol hautement olĂ©ique, obtenue par sĂ©lection variĂ©tale. Les doubles liaisons de cette matiĂšre premiĂšre insaturĂ©e ont Ă©tĂ© clivĂ©es dans des conditions oxydantes impliquant un systĂšme biphasique aqueux-lipophile, avec le peroxyde d’hydrogĂšne comme oxydant et le complexe peroxo-tungtĂšne Q3{PO2[WO(O2)2]4} comme catalyseur de transfert de phase (CTP) et co-oxydant. Ce CTP a permis d’assurer un transfert efficace vers le substrat en phase lipophile. Un mono-acide (acide pĂ©largonique) et un di-acide (acide azĂ©laĂŻque) Ă  chaĂźnes impaires plus courtes, peu prĂ©sentes Ă  l’état naturel, ont Ă©tĂ© ainsi synthĂ©tisĂ©s et purifiĂ©s grĂące Ă  un procĂ©dĂ© intensifiĂ©. L’acide pĂ©largonique a Ă©tĂ© formulĂ© en tant qu’agent de biocontrĂŽle Ă©cocompatible. Ce procĂ©dĂ© vert de scission oxydante a Ă©tĂ© appliquĂ© Ă  d’autres acides gras et Ă  leurs dĂ©rivĂ©s pour obtenir de nouveaux acides Ă  chaĂźnes courtes ayant diffĂ©rentes applications potentielles. Cette filiĂšre de production (culture, procĂ©dĂ©s de transformation et de purification, produits et leurs application) est basĂ©e sur une stratĂ©gie de dĂ©veloppement durable

    A qualitative analysis of small business owner-managers\u27 participation and learning in an online discussion forum : not quite paradise found

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    Small business owner-managers (SBOMs) are a difficult group to engage in formal face-to-face training and learning activities. Research to encourage SBOMs\u27 participation has focused on two main themes: first, trying to ascertain why they do not attend training and, second, determining their learning preferences. They are reluctant to attend formal training because they prioritise business operations (no time to attend training), perceive training as a poor return on investment, have negative perceptions of training and education, and believe the training provision often does not meet their needs. In terms of their learning preferences, it is clear that SBOMs prefer informal, network-based, experiential and problem-oriented learning. As such, efforts to increase SBOMs‘ engagement in training and learning should focus on trying to incorporate these learning preferences while endeavouring to overcome their rationale for not attending formal training. In this thesis, the focus is on the provision a free, informal, voluntary, online discussion forum (ODF) for SBOMs as an alternative to face-to-face training. The ODF provided an alternative to formal face-to-face training and enabled informal, voluntary, networkbased learning for SBOMs that met their learning preferences for experiential and problem-oriented learning. The ODF also overcame their reasons for not attending faceto- face training and enabled SBOMs to learn in an informal way, with and from each other‘s experiences, without having to leave their business operations. This approach was expected to promote the greater engagement of SBOMs in learning. This cross-disciplinary study brings together elements of educational psychology in terms of learning theory and the emerging theories of online learning. It also takes a business and management perspective in applying these theories in small firm context. The study involved the development of an asynchronous ODF, which was guided by the literature regarding SBOMs‘ training and learning, learning theory, online learning and, in particular, the importance of discussion for promoting relevant, authentic learning that enables interaction and reflection. The ODF provided a learner-centred approach to learning that encouraged active learning based on social interaction through discussion. Discussion was based on problems, issues and questions posted by SBOMs in the online network and answered by the knowledge and experience of other SBOM members of the network. As such, the ODF provided learning that was relevant, authentic and interactive and that encouraged reflection. The ODF set up for this research used Yahoo Groups, third party, groupware technology that enabled free access to SBOMs from a networked computer (other networked devices were not available in 2007). The Yahoo Groups ODF developed for this research was an online collaborative learning (OCL) forum that provided the basis of the case study reported in this thesis. The research was undertaken to explore the following research questions: Does an ODF empower SBOMs as active learners? What factors (internal and external) lead to different levels of participation (inactive, peripheral participants, active) in an ODF? What learning (single- or double-loop, surface or deep) results from different levels of participation in an ODF? The research was conducted using constructivist ontology, an interpretive epistemology and a qualitative methodology. The case study approach was used to evaluate SBOMs\u27 participation and learning using the OCL forum, using reliable data from SBOMs. Data from four sources—the OCL forum transcript, in-depth interviews, focus groups and field notes—were used to provide insight into participation and learning by SBOMs in the context of owning and operating a small business. Pozzi, Manca, Persico and Sarti‘s (2007) framework for tracking and analysing the learning process in an ODF was used to provide a structured approach to the analysis of participation and learning from the OCL forum transcript data. This was followed by a detailed thematic analysis of all data to determine what factors affected participation and learning by SBOMs in the OCL forum. Findings from this research provided proof of concept that an ODF for SBOMs supported double-loop learning; however, participation could not be assumed. Although the ODF provided a learning approach that met the SBOMs‘ learning preferences and mitigated their reasons for not attending formal training, the majority of invited SBOMs chose not to participate. Internal factors pointed to SBOMs‘ learning commitment, in particular, their occupational identity, whether they linked learning with business success, and their prior experience with ODFs. When SBOMs had committed to learning, they made time to learn in an ODF. External factors showed that the ODF technical and learning design also affected SBOMs‘ decision to participate, as did the quality of learning design; however, it appears external factors are less influential than the internal factor of SBOMs‘ learning commitment. This thesis makes four contributions: The importance of SBOMs‘ learning commitment in their decision to participate (or not) in a voluntary ODF Proof of concept that an informal ODF can promote deep learning for SBOMs Challenge to the idea purported by the more recent learning theory of heutagogy (Kenyon & Hase, 2001) that all learners in an online networked environment are self-determined Research design, exploratory, multiple data collection methods from the SBOMs—both those who participated in the ODF and those who chose not to take part

    Early aspects: aspect-oriented requirements engineering and architecture design

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    This paper reports on the third Early Aspects: Aspect-Oriented Requirements Engineering and Architecture Design Workshop, which has been held in Lancaster, UK, on March 21, 2004. The workshop included a presentation session and working sessions in which the particular topics on early aspects were discussed. The primary goal of the workshop was to focus on challenges to defining methodical software development processes for aspects from early on in the software life cycle and explore the potential of proposed methods and techniques to scale up to industrial applications
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